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Colorado GOP get criticized by New Jersey members over Sandy vote

WASHINGTON — Colorado's House Republicans are taking criticism from some members of the New Jersey delegation for opposing a Hurricane Sandy relief bill earlier this year and then seeking cash from that bill for Colorado's flood-ravaged areas.

New Jersey Republican Rep. Frank LoBiondo called Colorado's four Republicans the "hypocrisy caucus" in a local newspaper Thursday.

Another, Jersey Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., called Colorado's flood images "heart wrenching" and said in a news release, "Some of these very congressmen are shamelessly proving just how hypocritical they are."

Denise Stewart and John Lucero look over what is left of U.S. 36 near Pinewood Springs. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

The criticism from East Coast members comes as Colorado's Republicans and Democrats are trying to get Congress' help to funnel as much federal flood aid as possible to the state — including raising a critical cap set at $100 million to repair roads and bridges.

That extra money for roads and bridges comes from the $33 billion Sandy relief package that the Republican members opposed in January.

GOP Rep. Cory Gardner, whose Eastern Plains district was ravaged by the floods last month, said Thursday he supported an initial $17 billion to help Hurricane Sandy victims in January, but rejected the second one because it didn't include emergency watershed protection money for Colorado, needed because of the 2012 fires.

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"They have to understand that I voted against it because I felt we had a disaster that deserved to be treated as others in this bill," Gardner said.

Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Aurora, said he voted for the initial $17 billion in direct aid but didn't support the second relief package because it included spending that didn't have anything to do with Sandy, "such as the $150 million allocated for fisheries in Alaska."

"I absolutely believe that the federal government should assist areas affected by disasters," Coffman wrote in an e-mail. "But I could not justify subsequently supporting a wasteful $33 billion Senate amendment."

Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs, said the final Sandy bill was "overly generous," and that's why he voted against it.

All of Colorado's Democrats supported both Sandy relief bills.

Already this week, bills passed in the House and the Senate lifting the $100 million cap on federal cash to help the state repair highways and bridges — something Gov. John Hickenlooper has said is desperately needed.

However, the Senate and the House passed different versions of the highway cap bill — the Senate's version lifts the existing cap just for Colorado's flood relief, and the House removes the $100 million cap completely for any 2013 disaster.

The two sides now have to find agreement, which makes favors among members of different states important. In the Senate, one member can hold up a whole process in this type of legislation.

Originally, New Jersey GOP Sen. Jeff Chiesa placed a hold on Democratic Sens. Michael Bennet and Mark Udall's Senate proposal because he didn't want the highway money to infringe on any Sandy needs.

After both Senators had personal conversations with Chiesa, and he received assurances from the Department of Transportation, he agreed to lift his hold and support the Senate measure.

Nothing will be voted on until the shutdown is over. Gardner was optimistic.

"I think we're going to work this out," he said. "This is no different than any other legislative process."